Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion 8-week Course
I will be offering this course beginning on . There will be a 1-hour orientation on that date, and then the formal course will begin the following week at the same time. In order to be fully registered for the full course, you must attend the orientation session. For more info, read on!
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a research-proven program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. MSC teaches practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care, and understanding.
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Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn't receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are kind to themselves. It's a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. And it’s easier than you think.
This course is designed to enhance your ability to:
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Practice self-compassion and mindfulness in daily life
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Understand the empirically-supported benefits of self-compassion
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Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
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Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
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Transform challenging relationships, old and new
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Manage caregiver fatigue
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Explore the role of self-compassion in meeting your core values
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Embrace the art of savoring and self-appreciation
What To Expect:
Program activities include meditation, short teachings, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. The goal is for participants to directly experience self-compassion and learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life.
MSC is not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Beneficial change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.
Compassion is a positive, energizing emotion. However, it is said that “love reveals everything unlike itself.” While learning self-compassion, sometimes difficult emotions may arise. MSC teachers are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey enjoyable for everyone. However, if you are going through a particularly difficult time, it may be better to take this course at a later date when you can reap the full benefit.
This course takes a definite time commitment. There will be a 1-hour orientation session followed by 8 weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each, and a 3-hour retreat midway through the course that is usually on a weekend. Don’t worry, there are plenty of breaks during class! The classes build on each other, so please try to attend every session, and be willing to practice mindfulness and self-compassion formally or informally as you live your life each day.
Prerequisites:
Everyone is welcome, including people of all backgrounds and identities. No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC. Participants may be asked to provide some personal information when they register for this course to help teachers determine their safety and readiness for this kind of emotional work.
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The following book is recommended as a companion to the MSC course:
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (2018)
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The class is offered freely to make it as accessible as possible. If you find it of value, please consider making a donation to either Imagine Mindfulness, a non-profit working to make mindfulness classes available to all, or to the non-profit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, the organization that creates programs like this. For my background, you can view the “About Me” page. Testimonials are here. ​
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Registration:
You can review the waiver and register for the course here, or use the button below. Please note that you won't be fully registered for the class until you attend the orientation session. ​
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If you have any questions please email me at modestlymindful@gmail.com.
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Image by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash
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